Turner Broadcasting launched this cable channel on October 1, 1992, after acquiring the extensive Hanna-Barbera animation library the year before (and even before this, Turner owned some animation, by way of the 1986 MGM/UA deal and his production of Captain Planet and the Planeteers). Cartoon Network and the rest of Turner Broadcasting later merged with Time Warner in 1996, giving it access to more animated material, by way of Warner Bros. . The premiere of What A Cartoon! Show would eventually lead to the creation of the first of a number of original productions. When Cartoon Network decided to push classic H-B cartoons aside for its original productions, it launched Boomerang, a satellite and premium cable channel, in April 2000, to serve as a "retirement home" for them.

Around the late-2000s, the network began to incorporatelive action shows as it attempted to compete with other "kids'" channels, such as Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel. A number of animated originals as well as the Toonami and Miguzi blocks were cancelled or ended, only to be replaced by a number of live action programs, which came to a head when CN Real, a block of live-action reality shows and scripted series, was created. This block was cancelled shortly after its creation, as low ratings prompted a return to the network's signature "cartoon" programming.

The New Tens has seen a renaissance of airing animated originals with the network premieringa large numberof newanimatedseries tocater toa varietyof interests, with even more to come. Classics like Dexter's Laboratory and The Powerpuff Girls have also found their way back to the schedule after being relegated to Boomerang, and after a huge fan campaign following an April Fools' Day stunt, Toonami has also returned to the schedule. And speaking of variety of interests, the network has been taking a subtle change in demographics as displayed by its recent crop of TV-PG rated shows (often for the suggestive humor that was okay at the TV-Y7 level, as well as rude languagenote mostly "sucks," screwed," "pissed," "blows," and any and all mild insults and violence) starting with Canadian imports 6teen and the Total Drama animated reality shows and continuing with the originals Adventure Time and Regular Show. Quite unusual considering that programs that go above the TV-Y7 rating were a rarity even during the network’s peak popularity (the only Cartoon Network shows that had above a TV-Y7 rating were the classic cartoon blocks that were rated TV-G, which means that it's suitable for both adults and children, despite that a lot of classic cartoons have dubious content to them that hasn't been edited out for political correctness), but it seems like that they have started to take note of the growing Periphery Demographic. As of 2014, the only TV-Y7-rated shows on the network are the action cartoonsnote Ben 10, Tenkai Knights, whatever Pokemon dub is airing at the moment, and Legends of Chima that come on early in the mornings after [adult swim] airs and The Amazing World of Gumballnote despite that, in its native UK, the home video release (the UK has no television ratings) have a PG certificate for all of the things that got it a TV-Y7 rating in America: mild sexual innuendo, cartoonish violence that might be considered imitable, some mildly intense action-packed scenes, and any scenes considered Nightmare Fuel.

Robotomy (the shortest-lived series on Cartoon Network that's not a mini-series. Because of budget issues and lack of foreign appeal, the show was canceled after ten episodes and two that were supposed to be completed ended up being scrapped. Also notable for being created by one of the co-directors of Superjail)

Level Up (Second attempt at a live action/animated hybrid. Unlike Out of Jimmy's Head, this one actually had some fans, but the show came on around the time that Cartoon Network was winning back viewers with new animated shows and the semi-return of the classic cartoons. Cancelled as of 2013.)

Incredible Crew: (Live action sketch comedy series. Cancelled as of July, 29th, 2013. Featured Jeremy Shadanote the voice of Finn the Human on Adventure Time. Is the last live-action original program from Cartoon Network, much to the delight of viewers [who hated Cartoon Network's failed attempts at creating live-action content] everywhere)

Steven Universe (Cartoon Network's first original series to be created by a female showrunner)

Waynehead, a short-lived Celebrity Toon centered on Damon Wayans'note the same Damon Wayans who would be known for In Living Color!, along with his siblings, Keenan-Ivory, Shawn, Marlon, and Kim childhood in the inner city, where he had to wear a leg brace for his club foot and contend with bullies using humor.

CN Real note The end result of the mid-2000s push for live-action programming to compete with the Disney Channel and other kid-oriented entertainment channels. The backlash against this block was enormous, and low ratings eventually resulted in its cancellation. To put it into deeper perspective, the original page on this very site for the block turned into a massiveFlame Bait and Take That magnet, so much so that it eventually got deleted and made a member of the Permanent Red Link Club. See the discussion Here.

Super Chunk note 3 hour marathon block aired Saturday afternoon, replaced with Cartoon Olio from July 7, 2001 until May 25, 2002. The cartoons chosen were usually the original programming shows, but there were times where classic cartoon shorts and half-hour TV shows were picked.

Toonaminote Cartoon Networks action cartoon- and anime-oriented block that aired on weekday afternoons and, later, Saturdays, between 1997 and 2008. [adult swim] briefly revived the block on April Fools' Day 2012, and soon announced that Toonami would return on a regular basis beginning in May 26, 2012 as an adult-oriented anime/action cartoon block due to the stunt's positive reception.

Toon Headsnote A documentary series with a theme each episode and three cartoons that fit that theme, such as cartoons that show the Stone Age before The Flintstones did it or Chuck Jones' early, cutesy cartoons. There were two specials that featured rare and controversial animated shorts: "Toon Heads: The Lost Cartoons" and one about World War II cartoons. One centered on 12 Bugs Bunny cartoons that have Bugs fighting a racial caricature as his antagonist was planned as a final episode, but was pulled and shelved.

Har Har Tharsdays note A Thursday night block devoted to comedy, as its name implies. Now called "New Thursdays"

You Are Herenote A replacement to Fridays that soon was canned when CN decided to show new episodes on a daily basis

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